A year ago today(10/23/13), I was at work and things were going as
normal as planned. At 10:52 AM, I
received a text message from my brother, stating to “call me ASAP!!!!.” Although I never like to see those type of
messages, I didn’t think anything was wrong as I knew my brother would have
called me if it was an emergency. As the
text read, I immediately picked up the phone and gave him a call. Nothing could prepare me for what my brother
was telling me on the other end of the phone.
He said that he received a Facebook message from one of his friends
asking him to give him a call. My brother stated he wasn’t going to call his
friend because he was in the midst of getting things in order before leaving
for his trip to Charlotte, NC, but my brother said something said to call his
friend. Once he called his friend, my
brother also wasn’t prepared to hear what he was about to hear. His friend told him that Jeff Newland, a
mentor to many, my brother and myself included, and a community leader, was
found DEAD! Once my brother relayed the same information to me, I was stunned!
How could this be possible?! Not Jeff!!
Just the night before, I was getting ready for bed, and I literally said, "I need to send Jeff an email for the Best II Things class this week to confirm that I would be in attendance," tomorrow never came for that. Instead, tomorrow struck me with the sudden news of his death. A death that in my eyes was unwarranted as he was murdered. Any death of a friend or loved one from a sickness is very hard and difficult to deal with but easier to come to terms with, but a death by murder especially of someone that was well respected and honored others before himself is unfathomable.
I met Jeff years before Best II Things. I was looking to volunteer my time and thought Big Brothers Big Sisters would be the place to do so. I was interviewed by Jeff in his office at Big Brothers Big Sisters. I can still see him sitting in the mahogany office chair, smiling and talking about the vision that he saw Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) going in in the future. Volunteering never panned out for me with BBBS and thus my quick encounter with Jeff was over, or at least I thought it was.
Some years later, my brother held a networking event and somehow he became familiar with Jeff and invited him to the networking event. When I got to the networking event, I saw Jeff in the corner, networking and having a beer. He was just so friendly and down to earth probably just the opposite of what one would think of for someone of his stature. We started talking and I reminded him that I interviewed with him a few years prior at BBBS, that jogged his memory and he talked about the great time he had there and his new commitment with Rochester Mentors and how he and my brother met through an event in which the organization was looking to gather mentors in which my brother attended.
My brother and Jeff remained in contact with each other and in 2013 Jeff invited him to a networking event to which my brother asked me to attend with him. Low and behold, Jeff and I would cross paths yet again. As always, Jeff was warm and welcoming. He was in the midst of establishing Best II Things through monthly networking events held at the Pillars. The networking events were always friendly, warming, welcoming, and just that, networking. Somehow, Jeff had a knack of bringing the right people together for a greater cause. The purpose of the Best II Things were to get people to recognize their potential in a setting amongst other individuals that would help bring out the best in them by helping each other think differently and answer questions about themselves in the most honest of ways.
For me, Jeff was the ultimate supporter! He believed in your dreams more than you believed in them! His care was genuine. It showed in his interactions with you. He never once doubted your abilities, he always found a way to uplift your spirits! He gave me an opportunity to have the floor at his networking event one evening. In that setting, I expressed to him how much I appreciated him and how much I had gained from us crossing paths yet again. I was so glad that I had the opportunity to let him know how I felt about him, not knowing that it would be one of the last few times I would see his gleaming smile. The last time I saw Jeff was of course at one of the monthly networking events. I remember I wasn't feeling quite confident that day and I expressed this to him. And in Jeff fashion, he found the way to encourage me.
Unfortunately, Jeff was taken away from us for some unknown reason. A reason that yet remains a mystery to us all. The person that I knew wasn't worthy of this. Jeff was one of those people that you may only meet once in this lifetime. Selfless, sincere, caring, down to earth, uplifting, honorable, genuine, smart, great listener, great communicator, supportive, wise, and so many more great adjectives to describe him (insert yours here)! I can't think of a reason someone would want him dead. What I do know is that whomever it was took someone away from us all that served a great purpose on this earth. And even though someone took him away from us he continues to serve a greater purpose in his untimely death. That purpose is for us to live at our Best however we may see fit. I'm sure I speak for many that had the pleasure of knowing Jeff when I say he forever lives on through us in our endeavors and life journey. He smiles down on us when he sees us pursuing what we love. Thanks Jeff for your unwavering support and belief in our dreams! Your legacy will not be in vain. May your spirit forever live through us! Rest Peacefully my friend, rest peacefully!
Just the night before, I was getting ready for bed, and I literally said, "I need to send Jeff an email for the Best II Things class this week to confirm that I would be in attendance," tomorrow never came for that. Instead, tomorrow struck me with the sudden news of his death. A death that in my eyes was unwarranted as he was murdered. Any death of a friend or loved one from a sickness is very hard and difficult to deal with but easier to come to terms with, but a death by murder especially of someone that was well respected and honored others before himself is unfathomable.
I met Jeff years before Best II Things. I was looking to volunteer my time and thought Big Brothers Big Sisters would be the place to do so. I was interviewed by Jeff in his office at Big Brothers Big Sisters. I can still see him sitting in the mahogany office chair, smiling and talking about the vision that he saw Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) going in in the future. Volunteering never panned out for me with BBBS and thus my quick encounter with Jeff was over, or at least I thought it was.
Some years later, my brother held a networking event and somehow he became familiar with Jeff and invited him to the networking event. When I got to the networking event, I saw Jeff in the corner, networking and having a beer. He was just so friendly and down to earth probably just the opposite of what one would think of for someone of his stature. We started talking and I reminded him that I interviewed with him a few years prior at BBBS, that jogged his memory and he talked about the great time he had there and his new commitment with Rochester Mentors and how he and my brother met through an event in which the organization was looking to gather mentors in which my brother attended.
My brother and Jeff remained in contact with each other and in 2013 Jeff invited him to a networking event to which my brother asked me to attend with him. Low and behold, Jeff and I would cross paths yet again. As always, Jeff was warm and welcoming. He was in the midst of establishing Best II Things through monthly networking events held at the Pillars. The networking events were always friendly, warming, welcoming, and just that, networking. Somehow, Jeff had a knack of bringing the right people together for a greater cause. The purpose of the Best II Things were to get people to recognize their potential in a setting amongst other individuals that would help bring out the best in them by helping each other think differently and answer questions about themselves in the most honest of ways.
For me, Jeff was the ultimate supporter! He believed in your dreams more than you believed in them! His care was genuine. It showed in his interactions with you. He never once doubted your abilities, he always found a way to uplift your spirits! He gave me an opportunity to have the floor at his networking event one evening. In that setting, I expressed to him how much I appreciated him and how much I had gained from us crossing paths yet again. I was so glad that I had the opportunity to let him know how I felt about him, not knowing that it would be one of the last few times I would see his gleaming smile. The last time I saw Jeff was of course at one of the monthly networking events. I remember I wasn't feeling quite confident that day and I expressed this to him. And in Jeff fashion, he found the way to encourage me.
Unfortunately, Jeff was taken away from us for some unknown reason. A reason that yet remains a mystery to us all. The person that I knew wasn't worthy of this. Jeff was one of those people that you may only meet once in this lifetime. Selfless, sincere, caring, down to earth, uplifting, honorable, genuine, smart, great listener, great communicator, supportive, wise, and so many more great adjectives to describe him (insert yours here)! I can't think of a reason someone would want him dead. What I do know is that whomever it was took someone away from us all that served a great purpose on this earth. And even though someone took him away from us he continues to serve a greater purpose in his untimely death. That purpose is for us to live at our Best however we may see fit. I'm sure I speak for many that had the pleasure of knowing Jeff when I say he forever lives on through us in our endeavors and life journey. He smiles down on us when he sees us pursuing what we love. Thanks Jeff for your unwavering support and belief in our dreams! Your legacy will not be in vain. May your spirit forever live through us! Rest Peacefully my friend, rest peacefully!
